CHRISTCHURCH. FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1138, 4 September 1882, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH. FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

This Day. A fire occurred in High-street this morning and made a clearance of some of the buildings which had long been an eyesore in the centre of the city. The fire commenced shortly after midnight in a shop occupied by the Learned Pig and Armless Lady, next to King’s furniture shop, and nearly opposite Strange & Go’s, drapers. The fire commenced in the back premises, which, half-an-hour before the alarm, showed not the slightest symptoms of fire. Efforts were made to rescue the learned pig which was in the front part of the premises, but without avail ; it was roasted alive. The fire rapidly spread southward where the buildings were very old and of a very inflammable character. The progress of the flames northwards was much slower owing to King’s furniture warehouse being plastered inside. The Fire brigage were very early at work but before the flames were extinguished the followings buildings were destroyed. On the south side a shop occupied by Doherty, tobacconist, and Madame Lottie Wilmot, and a shop occupied by Crocker, draper, prevented the fiames extending further in this direction. On the north side the back premises of King's furniture warehouse were destroyed. The stock in King’s and Crocker's shops and part of that in Halbert's shop was removed in safety, as also that in the shops destroyed, with the exception of the learned pig. The origin of the fire is a mystery. All the shops destroyed were the property of Mr C. H. Brown of Nelson. Three hours elapsed before the fire was completely extinguished. The insurance is not yet known. The value of the buildings destroyed is comparatively trifling. Later. The following are the insurances on the fire this morning:—The building occupied by King, which was completely gutted, £5OO in the Standard ; King's stock of furniture, £lOOO in the Standard ; both these policies expired to-day. Two billiard tables and some furniture belonging to Mrs Tribe were destroyed in a room over King's shop, £4OO in the Transatlantic ; the policy exf fires September 9, Doherty, tobacconist, ost £5O, and is not insured. Mrs A. E. Thompson, the armlass lady, who was the owner of the learned pig, estimates her. ioss, including the pig, at £5OO, and is not insured. King and Hubbert’s stocks were much damaged by removal. James Service, butcher, who accidently out his thigh while killing pigs, on August 11, died at the hospital to-day,